John O'Leary - harmonica/vocals
John O'Leary is one of the early exponents of the blues harmonica in the UK. Originally from
Ireland, John's family was part of the mass migration to England in
the aftermath of World War 2. In London's thriving jazz clubs
of the 1960's, he first heard blues harp legend Cyril Davies with
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. John bought his first harp in
1962 and initially learned by watching Davies. Inevitably, he
discovered the great masters of the instrument Sonny Boy Williamson,
Little Walter, Noah Lewis, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Sonny
Terry and Junior Wells . Although their influences are still readily discernible
in his playing, he has developed an unique and instantly identifiable sound and style of his own.
John's career has seen his involvement
with numerous bands and musicians over five decades. Beginning in
1965 as a founder member of Savoy Brown's Blues Band through to the
present day John O'Leary & Sugarkane, he has continued to
maintain a prominent position on the European blues scene.
Over the years John has performed with
noted musicians and bands Donovan, Noel Redding, Eric Bell, Kim
Simmonds, Champion Jack Dupree, Roger Chapman, Tony McPhee, Dave & Jo-Ann Kelly, Alexis Korner, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Aynsley Dunbar, Victor Brox, Keef "Halfbreed"
Hartley and bands, Savoy Brown, John Dummer Blues Band & Mainsqueezet.
Today, as well as Sugarkane, he is concurrently a member of the
legendary Downliners Sect and The John O'Leary-Alan Glen Blues Review; which
for the past 10 years has hosted annual tributes to Muddy Waters,
Junior Wells and Cyril Davies..
In 2011 and 2013 John was
voted No 2 in the harmonica category by BLUES MATTERS magazine's writers and contributors.
